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The Philosophy of Avatar
What would Aristotle think of Team Avatar? How would Plato view the Fire Lord?
The Last Airbender is one of the most popular and acclaimed works of the last several decades. Using the classic structure of a magical hero fighting against a tyrannical emperor, Avatar creates an inquisitive, empathetic narrative about redemption and renewal in the aftermath of a debilitating war that has raged for a century. Through its three seasons and sixty-one episodes, Avatar contemplates not only what it means to be just, but what it means to build a just society. It interrogates our relationships with each other, with ourselves, and with our natural environment.
Viewing Avatar from the perspective of philosophers past and present, The Philosophy of Avatar demonstrates how the show offers both timeless and timely wisdom. The show carries the spirits of both the ancient Athenian teacher Plato and the modern American environmentalist Rachel Carson. Just as Avatar warns against drawing wisdom from only one source, The Philosophy of Avatar takes care to examine the series from a variety of perspectives so as to better demonstrate the wisdom it can offer about understanding ourselves and our world. Whether you’re an Avatar fan or a philosophy aficionado, The Philosophy of Avatar will delight and challenge you.
Joshua Fagan is a critic, novelist, and essayist from Colorado Springs. Since 2016, he has written extensively about Avatar. He is the founder and editor-in-chief of the science-fiction magazine Orion’s Belt. His YouTube channel has received over one million views.
The Last Airbender is one of the most popular and acclaimed works of the last several decades. Using the classic structure of a magical hero fighting against a tyrannical emperor, Avatar creates an inquisitive, empathetic narrative about redemption and renewal in the aftermath of a debilitating war that has raged for a century. Through its three seasons and sixty-one episodes, Avatar contemplates not only what it means to be just, but what it means to build a just society. It interrogates our relationships with each other, with ourselves, and with our natural environment.
Viewing Avatar from the perspective of philosophers past and present, The Philosophy of Avatar demonstrates how the show offers both timeless and timely wisdom. The show carries the spirits of both the ancient Athenian teacher Plato and the modern American environmentalist Rachel Carson. Just as Avatar warns against drawing wisdom from only one source, The Philosophy of Avatar takes care to examine the series from a variety of perspectives so as to better demonstrate the wisdom it can offer about understanding ourselves and our world. Whether you’re an Avatar fan or a philosophy aficionado, The Philosophy of Avatar will delight and challenge you.
Joshua Fagan is a critic, novelist, and essayist from Colorado Springs. Since 2016, he has written extensively about Avatar. He is the founder and editor-in-chief of the science-fiction magazine Orion’s Belt. His YouTube channel has received over one million views.
215 pages, Paperback
Published March 5, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 11, 2021
I've been a big fan of Avatar since I was a kid, so I was a bit nervous to read this, but it didn't disappoint. It's comprehensive, covering Avatar and Korra through the perspectives of philosophers both ancient and modern. I don't have a philosophy background, so I'm sure some of this went over my head, but it's quite enjoyable, and it's never hard to understand. Fagan is straightforward and thoughtful, the kind of teacher I wish I'd had when I was in school.
October 5, 2021
Let me start with the assertion that this book's existence is absolutely necessary. It is necessitated by the deeply meaningful show that is Avatar The last Airbender. Avatar is a thoroughly entertaining children's show that is critically acclaimed, but does more than simply entertain its audience. It delves into some of the deepest and darkest aspects of human existence such as war, genocide, colonialism, identity, inequality and cycles of violence. It covers humanistic, philosophical, political and intellectual themes such as gender, disability, spirituality , environmentalism, revenge, terrorism, pacifism amongst many others. It teaches life lessons in an entertaining way, without any heavy handedness and occasionally even admits subtly that it does not have the answers (a perfect example being the episode in which Katara decides that while she will not murder her mother's killer, she will not forgive him either).
So this book is necessary.
It does a number of things extremely well. I found it very accessible for a beginner to philosophy who likes the show. It is very well referenced. It covers the nuances of philosophical thought particularly well and outlines theories with an adequate but not excessive amount of depth.
I would argue that it is somewhat variable in quality. I found that the chapters on Plato, Aristotle, Existentialism and a picture of Dorian Grey were particularly well written and I found myself learning a lot! In contrast, the final chapter on environmentalism was a bit more clumsy, less succinct and had less references to the show.
The main weakness of this book aside from this however, is the complete lack of Eastern Philosophy. Avatar is a show steeped in Eastern influence, from the cultures of its characters, to their names and the names of their locales, their outfits, their food and the choreography of the bending. But it is not only aesthetic, the philosophical and spiritual underpinnings of the show are heavily influenced by Eastern Philosophy. The show has a whole episode that outlines the Chakras and provides and introduction to meditation, the 'jings' described in the show are not dissimilar to Fa Jin and Nei Jim found in martial arts, meditation is referred to on a number of occasions in the show and aang is at one point asked to detach from all passion in the world, in a way not too similar to the precepts of some Buddhist thought.
The fact we have books devoid of Eastern Philosophy that pertain to be 'Histories of Philosophy' or faculties dedicated to philosophy with nothing but Western Philosophy being covered is intellectually problematic.
The fact a book based on a show so steeped in Asian Philosophy and spirituality is devoid of Eastern Philosophy is a travesty.
So this book is necessary.
It does a number of things extremely well. I found it very accessible for a beginner to philosophy who likes the show. It is very well referenced. It covers the nuances of philosophical thought particularly well and outlines theories with an adequate but not excessive amount of depth.
I would argue that it is somewhat variable in quality. I found that the chapters on Plato, Aristotle, Existentialism and a picture of Dorian Grey were particularly well written and I found myself learning a lot! In contrast, the final chapter on environmentalism was a bit more clumsy, less succinct and had less references to the show.
The main weakness of this book aside from this however, is the complete lack of Eastern Philosophy. Avatar is a show steeped in Eastern influence, from the cultures of its characters, to their names and the names of their locales, their outfits, their food and the choreography of the bending. But it is not only aesthetic, the philosophical and spiritual underpinnings of the show are heavily influenced by Eastern Philosophy. The show has a whole episode that outlines the Chakras and provides and introduction to meditation, the 'jings' described in the show are not dissimilar to Fa Jin and Nei Jim found in martial arts, meditation is referred to on a number of occasions in the show and aang is at one point asked to detach from all passion in the world, in a way not too similar to the precepts of some Buddhist thought.
The fact we have books devoid of Eastern Philosophy that pertain to be 'Histories of Philosophy' or faculties dedicated to philosophy with nothing but Western Philosophy being covered is intellectually problematic.
The fact a book based on a show so steeped in Asian Philosophy and spirituality is devoid of Eastern Philosophy is a travesty.
April 19, 2021
I was recommended this by a friend, and I was quite impressed by what I read. On my bookshelves at home, there are several of these "pop culture and philosophy" books, and this one is a welcome addition. I haven't much thought critically about Avatar. My friends are huge friends of Avatar. One of them swears it's the best show ever made. After reading this, I can at least see where they're coming from. Fagan clearly knows what he's talking about, and he got me to think about the show's characters in a new light. You don't need to be a huge fan of Avatar to enjoy this work, though it helps to at least have a basic understanding of philosophy. Fagan explains a few key concepts for the reader, like "kleos" and "eudaimonic," and that was helpful. You don't need to be a philosophy prof to enjoy the book, but it's worth at least knowing who Aristotle was before you start reading this.
Admittedly, I have a few nitpicks. While the book's chapters are thorough, there is some repeated information, and there are a few characters, like Uncle Iroh, who I would have liked more info about. Also, about 1/5 to 1/4 of this book is about Korra, so keep that in mind. Still, it's an interesting read, and I absolutely recommend it if you're interested in Avatar.
Admittedly, I have a few nitpicks. While the book's chapters are thorough, there is some repeated information, and there are a few characters, like Uncle Iroh, who I would have liked more info about. Also, about 1/5 to 1/4 of this book is about Korra, so keep that in mind. Still, it's an interesting read, and I absolutely recommend it if you're interested in Avatar.
April 14, 2021
I remember watching Avatar as a kid and liking it quite a lot, so I was nervous when I rewatched it for the first time on Netflix. Would it be as good as I remembered? No, it was better. Fagan explains why the show is so compelling. There are nine chapters in this book, each one devoted to a different philosopher and a different part of Avatar. For instance, there is a chapter about Ozai and Plato's conception of the tyrant. The book is chronological. It starts in the ancient world and ends in the present day with a nice chapter on environmentalism.
Some of these chapters repeat some of the same basic information. Not the philosophy, but just basic facts about the characters of Avatar. It seems to be designed so that any person who hasn't heard of Avatar can pick up this book and not be lost, which I appreciate. I'm going to get this my friends who still won't watch Avatar because they think it's just a "kiddie show."
Some of these chapters repeat some of the same basic information. Not the philosophy, but just basic facts about the characters of Avatar. It seems to be designed so that any person who hasn't heard of Avatar can pick up this book and not be lost, which I appreciate. I'm going to get this my friends who still won't watch Avatar because they think it's just a "kiddie show."
April 14, 2021
I must admit, I was a little skeptical when I saw this book. I'm a fan of Avatar, and I remember participating in the fandom a little when I was growing up, but I never thought of it as being this extremely philosophical show. This book changed my mind. You might not think you want to read a 6000-word chapter on the parallels between Zuko's journey and St. Augustine's Confessions. I felt the same way, but by the end of the chapter, I had understood Zuko's story in a way I hadn't before. I've always liked Zuko, but I wasn't completely sure why. Why was his journey different from all the fatuous "redemption arcs" for antiheroes? This book really helped me understand what "light and dark," and "good and evil" actually mean in the context of Zuko.
I will say I missed Toph. There could have been more coverage of her and Iroh in this book. Still, for the most part, I was extremely satisfied. If you like Avatar and want to analyze it more deeply, check out this book.
I will say I missed Toph. There could have been more coverage of her and Iroh in this book. Still, for the most part, I was extremely satisfied. If you like Avatar and want to analyze it more deeply, check out this book.
April 14, 2021
As a teacher who's tried to get my students to think about philosophy, this book is a major help. It explains important philosophical ideas clearly using the context of Avatar: The Last Airbender. My students love this book because it's engaging, and the author uses clear examples, and I love it because it doesn't strike me as too gimmicky or faddish, which is a problem some of these popular philosophy books have. I admit I've learned a little about Avatar and philosophy myself through this book. The chapters on Sartre and environmentalism are especially helpful.
I wish the author had talked a little more about Uncle Iroh, but his insights are sound. The Zuko and Azula sections of this book are very astute. It's obvious the author knows as much about Avatar and he does about philosophy. I highly recommend this.
I wish the author had talked a little more about Uncle Iroh, but his insights are sound. The Zuko and Azula sections of this book are very astute. It's obvious the author knows as much about Avatar and he does about philosophy. I highly recommend this.
April 19, 2021
Avatar deserves to be taken seriously, and this book demonstrates why. This book isn't perfect. There are a few points I don't think are quite right. My view on Azula's character is different from the author's, and I'm not sure I agree with his high estimation of Korra (both the character and the show). Still, there are so many interesting points here that I have to recommend the book anyway. The final chapter about environmentalism is probably my favorite. I don't know why it's one of the shortest chapter in the book, while the chapter about Thomas Hobbes is very long, but it's nonetheless probably the best treatment I've seen about how Avatar handles environmentalism.
I appreciate how straightforward the prose is. So many philosophy books I've tried to read bored me because they inundated me with technical terms and expected me to understand. This is one of my big problems with both Hegel and Kant, for the record. The author of Philosophy of Avatar, however, just says what he means, and he says it in a way that's easy to understand, even if I didn't always agree with the points he was making.
This book was a little brief at only 210 pages, and I was left wanting more, but that's a good feeling to have. I recommend picking up this book if you have free time, and you want to think more about Avatar.
I appreciate how straightforward the prose is. So many philosophy books I've tried to read bored me because they inundated me with technical terms and expected me to understand. This is one of my big problems with both Hegel and Kant, for the record. The author of Philosophy of Avatar, however, just says what he means, and he says it in a way that's easy to understand, even if I didn't always agree with the points he was making.
This book was a little brief at only 210 pages, and I was left wanting more, but that's a good feeling to have. I recommend picking up this book if you have free time, and you want to think more about Avatar.
April 19, 2021
This was quite a nostalgia trip. Avatar was one of my favorite shows growing up, and it was wonderful to revisit it. Doing so even inspired me to embark on a complete rewatch of the series on Netflix, which I can't recommend highly enough. Avatar is, if you listen only to the cynics, just a show about a kid trying to save the world from an evil ruler who wants to destroy the world. The truth is more complicated, and the author of this book demonstrates that. It's about cobbling together the pieces from a degraded, wartorn world and trying to make something better. I didn't know a lot about the philosophy at the core of this show, but I didn't find this book hard to understand. The author's knowledge of both philosophy and Avatar is obvious.
There are nine chapters of this relatively short (200-ish page) book, and they progress relatively chronologically from the distant Greek past to Rachel Carson and Sartre. Some parts of the book touch on Korra, but the original series is the focus. There are questions raised about justice, freedom, and revolution, and they all feel organic to the discussion of Avatar. It's not like the author is trying to force his ideology on Avatar. This book isn't preachy. Rather, the author uncovers philosophical undercurrents to the show that I hadn't noticed. This books is a wonderful guide through Avatar. Pick it up and refer to it as you watch through the show.
There are nine chapters of this relatively short (200-ish page) book, and they progress relatively chronologically from the distant Greek past to Rachel Carson and Sartre. Some parts of the book touch on Korra, but the original series is the focus. There are questions raised about justice, freedom, and revolution, and they all feel organic to the discussion of Avatar. It's not like the author is trying to force his ideology on Avatar. This book isn't preachy. Rather, the author uncovers philosophical undercurrents to the show that I hadn't noticed. This books is a wonderful guide through Avatar. Pick it up and refer to it as you watch through the show.
April 19, 2021
Just a wonderful book! As someone who studied philosophy in school, I got to thinking about the philosophy of Avatar when I was watching the show with my kid, and lo and behold, here's Fagan with a wonderful analysis of the show. It might be a bit strange to examine Avatar through the perspective of Western philosophers considering how Eastern the show is in its inspirations, but Fagan makes clear that he's doing this not because Avatar was directly inspired by say, Socrates, but because that provides an interesting perspective through which to view the conflicts that emerge in Avatar.
He draws on a wide variety of inspirations, from Oscar Wilde to Plato to Sartre, and the result is a reading experience that feels like you've been in a philosophy class, only more enjoyable. Don't be afraid of feeling lost. Fagan takes you by the hand without making you feel that you're being treated like an idiot. I can't recommend this enough.
He draws on a wide variety of inspirations, from Oscar Wilde to Plato to Sartre, and the result is a reading experience that feels like you've been in a philosophy class, only more enjoyable. Don't be afraid of feeling lost. Fagan takes you by the hand without making you feel that you're being treated like an idiot. I can't recommend this enough.
January 4, 2022
As a huge fan of Avatar, I found this book to be very interesting. While not completely illiterate in terms of philosophy, I definitely do not have much of a background in the subject. The author does a great job of explaining each philosophical lens he view Avatar through in plainly understandable language which makes for an easy read. It adds another layer of context to the shows and gets the reader to see the characters of Avatar on different and interesting ways which leads to an even deeper appreciation of the series.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews